IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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«' 


CIHM/ICMH 
Microfiche 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


^ 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notat/Notaa  taehniqua*  at  bibMographiquaa 


Th«  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baflt 
original  copv  availabia  for  filming.  FaaturaM  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographhcally  uniqua. 
w*iich  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chacksd  balow. 


□    Colourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


D 


D 
D 


D 
D 


n 


n 


Covars  damagad/ 
Couvartura  andommag^^ 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


I I    Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculia 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  coulaur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  ether  tnan  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  coulaur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleut 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Encre  de  coulaur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleua  ou  noire) 
I I    Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  coulaur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d 'autre*  documants 

Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Laraliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorslon  la  long  da  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peijt  que  certainas  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restatiration  apparaissant  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  ixi  film^as. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmsntaires; 


L'Instltut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  M  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
una  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquH  ci-dessoup. 


[~n    Coiour«id  pages/ 


D 


D 
D 


n 


Pagea  da  coulaur 

Pagaa  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag*as 


Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restauries  et/ou  pelliculies 


0    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicoiories,  tachetAes  ou  piqui 


piqu^es 


Pages 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditach^es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualiti  inigala  de  ('impression 


Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprand  du  material  suppl^mantaire 


r~n    Only  edition  available/ 


Seule  idition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obsc.  red  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refiimed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  iti  film^es  i  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmec!  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  induction  indiquA  ci-dassous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

/ 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  fllmttd  h«r«  hat  b««n  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  tha  e*n*rositv  of: 

Th«  Nova  Scotia 
Lagitlativt  Library 


L'axamplaira  f Ilm4  fut  raprodult  grica  A  la 
04n4ro«it*  da: 

Tha  Nova  Scotia 
Laflitlativa  Library 


Tha  Imagat  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  consids'.ing  tha  conaltion  and  laglbillty 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Las  Imagas  sulvantaa  ont  AtA  raprodultaa  avac  la 
plus  grand  soln.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  «rt 
da  la  hanat4  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  ii9 
fllmaga. 


Original  copies  in  printed  papor  covars  ara  fiimad 
baginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustratad  Impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cova^  whsn  appropriate.  All 
ether  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
f  Irr .  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impressi  >n. 


Tiie  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "), 
whichever  applies. 


Lea  axempiairea  origlnaux  dont  la  couvartura  9n 
papier  est  Imprimis  sont  fllmis  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  termlnant  solt  par  la 
darnlAie  papa  qui  comporte  une  emprelnte 
d'Impression  ou  d'lllustratlon.  solt  par  la  second 
plat,  aalon  le  cus.  Tous  les  autres  axemplalraa 
orlginaux  sont  fllmis  an  commandant  par  la 
pramldre  page  qui  comporte  une  emprelnte 
d'Impression  ou  d'lllustratlon  at  en  termlnant  par 
la  darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
emprelnte. 

Un  dee  syrnboias  suivants  apparattra  aur  la 
dernldre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  swion  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signlfle  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signlfle  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  uppe*  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmia  A  das  taux  da  reduction  diffiranta. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raprodult  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  drolte, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombr9 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammea  suivants 
lllustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


I 


mim 


f'^ 


^OVA  SCOT/4 


PROVINCE  HOUSE 


1 

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1 

V 

' X 7 — ~^- 

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s 

t  ■      ^ 

/ 

- 

'  1 

■ 

1' 

i 

• 

*     ■ 

H 

^:. 

4 

ife 

* ; 

;        . 

-"-"rtfar'-'iiiMr  ■■ 

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ii 

i 

■ 

P,^,.;,; 

^ 

v 

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i 

s- 

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■7        # 


^3l 


•^^  <«A  l^t  t^  '.^t 


Mr.    EtLES'i 


DISCOURSE 


On  ExoD.  XX.  8« 


•"'^-^■^^-r       iiiiiiiiiiiiiM^ 


•  • 


♦     .9 


*•  • 


i. 


*4 


N 


;. 


THE 

CHUtlSTIAN    SABBATM 

ixfUnnti  and  Mindiestti^ 

In    A 

DISCOURSE 

O  N 

EXOD.      XX,      f. 

DdiTcred,    Jm,    14;    1759. 

Upon  a  particular  Occadon  i 
J»jr  M  A  T  H  E  R    B  Y  L  E  S,  A  M* 

Piftor  of  tke  Firft  Church  of  Cn&ut  ia  Ntw-Lindm, 
Publilhed  at  the  Requeft  of  hit  Hearen. 


Job  xxxii.  I,  3,  10.  S§  they  itafti  t§  enfwtr  Job» 
huaufe  hi  was  rightteut  in  his  0WH  Eytt  %  •— — 
thty  Jound  no  Anfwtr^  and  ysi  had  eondtmtitd  Job. 
-^Thtrt/ore  I  faidf  Hurki»  to  mm,  lalfo  wHtJbao 
mini  Ofinion, 


#^ 


VEW'LOtfDOKi 
Pnntcd  uA  Sold  bf  T.  Gixxk',    |f  occlxx. 


X 


r/f 


i 


HV 


The  Chfittian  Sabbath  explained 
and  vindicated 


EXOD.  XX.  8. 
Rmtmbir  the  Sabbaib-Daj  to  JctepU  Holy, 


'"•A 


m     *  »   •. 


A 


If  5  ycry  meUnchoIy  Remark  that  I  am  obliged 
t(  cnake,  at  an  Introdyrticn  eo  the  prefent  Dif- 
cr-'^re  I  tha..  there  is  n«  one  Article  of  Religion, 
*uht-  in  !)o(arine  or  Praftice,  bat  wha  has  been 
lae  Subica  of  warm  Debate.  There  ever  hat 
been,  an.  vcr  will  be.  in  the  prefent  Conftitution  of 
i  ft»ni,v>  U.oL  who  give  heed  to  feducing  Sjiriti  j  and 
depart  from  the  Purity  of  that  Faith,  which  was  once 
delivered  to  the  Saints.  And  as,  upon  thefe  Occafioni, 
It  IS  the  Duty  of  every  Chrittian  to  vindicate  the  Reli- 
gion he  profeflcs  ;  fo  it  is  peculiarly  incumbent  upon 
ihc.c  vyhocail  thernfelves  iheMiniftersof  JesusCurist. 
This  15  their  proper  O/Bce.  -Knowing,  fays  the  Apoftlc, 
that  I  am  ftt  for  tbi  Defend  •/  the  Go/pel. 

You  are  all,  by  this  Time,  tufficicntly,«ppri|M  of  «y 
Defign,  in  feleding  thefe  Words,  for  your  Entertain- 
ment this  Day.  You  are  fenfible  that  the  CtrfJUan^ab' 
tatb  hiS,  of  Jate,  been  puWickly  attacked  i  and  thofc 
who  obfervc  it  have  been  challenged  to  prodrce  lar 
Scripture- Warrant  for  the  Praftice.-  I  «m  not  abouc 
?°  ^^}^.  the  Lifts,  with  a  Party  of  deludeii  VUionariii; 

A  2  ^      blinded 


iTifcr  m  ^ir  owtt  Coac^lf  th.ii  fe^en  Men  0^ 
rtMlef  .  Re.foo.    Thcfe  wt  may  pity  iJpro^C? 

we  1  rutfc.    A  Man  aighc  trgtw  wnh  a  Wlivj>i>ri  VIl 

with  fe.foo.bk  Crettur*.  :  I  would  ttkTit  foTmS.^ 
«  »in  not  be  M  uatrekooM  Ditcvtm.  if.  bmb  aI 

X  prepofe,  therefore  i 

n.     r#  mptifi  hw  /gr  tbh  ammsndii  msmL  snd 

P^[>^^psy,Mrp0intidfir  this  End,  wm,  altifid,  • 
•i  ihi  RtfurrtMt$n  if  tur  LORD, 
and, 
IV.    my  Psfsits,   t»  ibis  ?uffofi,  6re  ntt  JUll 
^fuqutnt,  in  tbt  Niw-7iJletMH ;  mcrtpsjitivt 
<W  exprtft^  than  as  preftnt  wt  find  tbem: 

Under  thcfe  Four  Heidi.  I  think,  I  fh^ll  be  able  to 
comprfHewl  the  whole  of  the  Controrcrfy. 

^    ^/^^i^f'^'^^or  hritfly  to  ixpUiu  Ibt  NgiuN 
and  Dijgn  0/  tbt  Sabbatb, 

J^.t  T^^^^  "  originiHy  Ntbrtw,  it  11  to  thiiLiR- 
8«W  that  we  muft  apply,  for  its  proper  Signiica- 
?|on  I  and  wt  (haJl  then  find  that  tho  S^/sfiVfotd 


R,   W'-^"    "JH 


Cm  CM 

■  Divine 
l«dgc  tf 

Succelf. 

'  dctliag 
granted 

)oa  lift 

*^Mrh  ii 


#//i# 


'/•«iii 


9i   thi 


ft  Mil 

wJStivi 


blcto 


Tgfurt 

Lan* 

lifici- 

¥ofd 

i2«? 


f 


mifhinti  Mi  vMtsftd.  y 

Jl|f  «iaAty  anfweri  to  ic  t  tiid  mif  (m  fobfticutcd  in 
the  Ro«fn  of  U«  upon  any  Occafion.  Accordingly 
'mt  rt ad,  C#«.  iL  3.  thai  the  Firft  SabbatN  irai  inAi- 
iytcd,  beciufc  chac,  on  ihac  Day,  God  tt/lid  horn 
ail  his  Worki,  which  he  had  naaide.  It  u  evident 
Chen,  chat  the  Sabhach  waa  deCgned  10  be  a  Day  ei 
R^^  from  all  worldly  Employ mrnc  :  for,  where  there 
*fi  no  Rifit  t\itf  can  be  no  Sabbath  \  and  to  (yppoCt 
a  Sabbath  without  a  Rt^^  ii  a  Cor.tradidlion  in  Tcrina. 
Thia  Scnfe  of  Thing*  is  alfo  plainly  intimated  in  the 
Fourth  Commandment  \  where  we  arc  told,  *Ikt  Si' 
vtnth  Bity  it  thi  SsSkatk  or  Reft,  #/  tbt  LORD  t^ 
GOD  :  in  ii  tbtrtjore  thtujbsll  n$t  4%  st^  W$rk,  If 
then,  we  can  prove  that  there  is  fuch  a  Thing  is  a  Sab- 
bath und&r  the  Gofpel,  there  certainly  needs  nc  ad^i- 
Ctonal  Proof,  that  this  is  a  Day  on  which  we  are  nok 
CO  labour.  If  one  is  made  evident  \  the  other  muft, 
of  NecefTity,  be  equally  fo  :  or  elfe,  we  mud  fuppofe  a 
Sabbath  to  be  no  babbath,  or  a  Day  of  Reft  and  a  Dav 
of  Labour  to  be  one  and  the  fame  Thing  \  wbirfk 
would  be  confiderably  abfurd  :  but  I  confeh  not  more 
fo  than  many  Thing;*,  which  our  Adverfarici  have  fre* 
quently  aflcrted.  Thus  far  then  feems  to  be  pretty 
clear,  that^  if  there  it  a  Sabbath,  it  muft  be  a  Day  of 
R^, 

But  though  this  be  a  literal  TranHation  of  the  Word, 
we  mufi  not  imagine  from  hence,  that  the  Sabbath  is 
a  Seafon  in  which  we  may  indulge  •  Difpoficion  to 
Sloth  and  Idlenefs.  We  have  enough  to  do  upon  the 
Sabbatfi,  though  we  ihould  not  entangle  ourfelvea  with 
fccular  Affairs.  It  is  a  Day  in  which  God  challengct 
a  rpccial  Propriety,  Tbt  Uhhath  tf  thi  LORD  tbf 
COD  ;  and  it  (hould  therefore  be,  in  a  fpecial  Manner, 
devoted  to  his  Glory.  It  (hould  be  con0dered,  net  r'  ]j 
•I  a  Day  •!  Rtji,  but  alfo  of  fuhlUk  fr*rjbip  -,  in  which 
we  are  under  peculiar  Obligations  to  tflemble  for  chat 
Furpofe  :  for  m  Ltv,  uiii.  9.  we  find  it  (tiled,  by, 
goD  kin(Glf»  »«•  enljr  •  SHhtk  if  iS«f  ^  bttc  tilb; 


t       Thi    CHRJ8TJJN  iAiBATIi 

Lt^j[irL*''r  *"  ^**^-  ?"'»"•  9-  we  mctc  Willi 
jy^i-W  «^f,^r«  tppomied  for  the  5*bb»ch.  TK« 
Wm«r  Sfcund  Hfjlm,  ^hich  io  iutkuled.  4  /Vi/«i  .r 

IK.  I         '^'*^'  **'  ?  ^**^  Hn>pJoya)ent,     And  k H 
f^8u«gc  of  ch«  Fropbct.  Ifi.  hwv  a.,     fr^. 

>j^  i^>r#  i»^.  /s„k  tki  LORU.     Tbii  Fradice  waa 

Hi?  ^°";*f  »""*i  by  our  Loud  J..U.  Chrut  him^ 

IJi*  K  f  ^'',^."'-'^*]'  ^'^  »»"".  w»»<  he  wti  upon  fc*4irth  1 
Md  his  Apoftiei.  after  his  Afcennon.  prea«hing  in  cbt 

J^!!^^^'  "P""  the  Sabbath-Day.  Jt  affca.  not  th. 
prtfant  Afgumrnt  whichtr  (hit  was  the  Firft  or  Se^entli 
Day  of  the  Week.  All  that  1  n,w  infift  upon  ij? 
that  if  there  is  a  Sabbath,  under  the  GofpcUt  ia  • 
Day  appropriated  to  putlick  H^orjhip.  Whether  thert 
»•  or  HOC.  we  ikiW  fee  prcfenily.  Only,  take  Notice. 
o!f  "^  n    "r  ^'^T   ^    demonftrated,  the  other  {fol- 

i J'rr°  ,    •  "ti '^^^  °/'8^"*'   "*••  «>'  •  Sabbath  at 
jccefTarily  in.  luding  puHick  Worjhip,  as  it  does  a  RiA 

ihe  Sabbath  is  not  compleat.     From  wherce.  by  tS 
Way  we  may  gather  the  following  ufcful  Corollary  i  a 
1  ruth  which,  perhaps,  is  feidom  thought  on  .•  apd  thai  is 
that  where  there  is  no  puhlick  H^orjbip,  the  Sabbath 
11  not  properly  celebrated  ;  and  thofc  who  feparatc  them- 
Jelvcs  fwcn  this  Divine  Inflitution,  whatever  they  may 
think  of  It,  and  how  devoutly  focver  they  may  fpend 
their  Time  m  their  Clofets,  they  cannot  be  faid  to 

r»!f^*  ^.       r  ^'^  Perfon  tht.  ^bfcnti  him fcif  from 
tftc  Worfiiip  of  God  in  his  Sanftuary,  u  effediwlir 
breaks  the  Sabbath.  11  if  he  laboured  in  his  worldir 
Uufineft.    It  II  t  eonmon  Obferration  indeed,  tkac  Ne* 
teffity  ha,  no  Law  j  wd  in  Cafes  of  Necemty,  wc' 
nuy  be  abfent.    True  j  and  in  Cafei  of  Neccffity; 
^c  may  alio  Mmt  upon  the  Sabbath  :  but  neither  m 
•ne  iBRtnce,  nor  the  other,  can  '  e  properly  be  fiiid  to 
*i«  the&bfcathi  and  NothiBg  thc^  biS? K 


ii(^Uine4  and  vindiutid. 


nty  Cin  ever  juft.fy  either  the  one  or  the  other.     V.  )uM 
we  ic  f  j.  «  S4bbich  (hen.  we  rr.un  net  hrjaki  tbt  ^Ifm- 

hH.  i  '2     '*^**^'"'  ^'  '*'  ^''''"'  '^i'^'  *• 

wKulI'^^'""^'*:  ""^'V^«V"^«'i»th«  bcHdcther.lwo. 

wh.th  -ppcar  to  te  the  prmcip.!  Knd»  of  «  Stbb.iM  \ 

here  .,  a,K,ther.  wh.ch  f..rr.,  to  bef-condMry  and  fubor* 

''..,' J    7'*."  ^'^'•"''-'of  f:>nie  txcraurdinarr 

•n  h.it  h-ppcned  s  or  at  leatl  thac  it  is  no  n.odrrn  Invcn- 
.100.  but  W4.  generally  credited  at  the  very  T.rre  i^htri 
It  was  fa.d  ro  happen.  Thus  the  Pa^  adijlual  s!bbath 
v|a,  dtf.gned  a,.M.aioria!  of  God's  creating  the  World, 
in  fix  Days  ;  and  rtft.r  .pon  the  fcventh  The  Mo. 
/|«/^*  w.Mntendcd  mr.  particularly,  to  rommemoulr 
.^m.raculou.  l>  i^ranc<  of  IJr.eUum,U.  lZ% 
Ijjpt.     And.ohkeMwnner,  KhtChrfJlhn,  as  v^'t  km. 

aJa'u'^  ^^^^'^^'^^^  fo  tl>«  «^efurred,on  of  O.KisT. 
And  I  look  upon  ic  ro  be  the  bed  Evidence  that  we  hav. 
or  that  It  IS  pombic  we  fhould  have  ,  the  b<rt  Evi^r.  cc 
ul  "d  r*  ^'""'^'^•^'^J.  "f  the  Certainly  of  thac  Fa^l 
If  the  Rcfurred^ion  of  Chkist.  as  recorded  inthe  Gcf: 
pti.  had  not  been  a  Diviric  Reality  j  ic  appears  to  me 
impombic  that  the  Chridian  Sabbath  fhoXier  have 
b:cn  introduced  :  and   \  am  perfw^dcd  it  ^.ill  app  ip 

^'^"'  K^  t  ^^  '"?'  •'"P"'"'''  *'*^^<0"'  ^^«  f«^'i"i^ny  corn, 
ders  the  Matter,  in  all  it'^  Circumftancrs.     From  Ihcncc 

Tr^pr^Tl  ^''^'''^^  ^^pcrtance  of  this  mmtioiK 

•^aifi  And  » the  Refurrraion  of  Chi.  ist  is  the  turninR 
Poin  ,  upon  which  the  whole  Syftem  of  Revelation  de? 

™rtihl  ''^^^"^  ^y"^"^"h.  the  mod 

inconteaible  Evidence  of  ihat  Refurreaion.     Thofe 

In^      i?'^"''f"c  "''^''  ^oo^^«hrow  the  Sabbath  ;  thc^ 

hZ*  'r v"  ''  i  ^.?°\'  ^"  '8"°^*"«  «'  ^hat  they  are  a- 
bout  (  tisprobabl.  they  are,;  and  think  they  are  doing 
God  Service  :  butthi.is  :ertain,  they  arc  fapping  the 
my  Fouadauons.  and  undermining  ihc  principal  Bu|! 

I!  wark 


m 


to       7hi  CllRlsri  AN  SAB  BAr  H 


i\ 


i 


wark  oFthtGofpcI.     Having  given  this  general  Account 
sf  the  Nature  &  Dcfign  of  the  Sabbath,  I  proceed  now, 

n.  To  excr.iine  hotu  fnr  this  Command  is  mo^a!^  and 

of  perpetual  Obligation. 
That  there  is  a  Morality  in  it,  appears  highly  pro- 
bable, from  it's  being  »njoyned,up«n  our  Firit  Parvn's, 
in  Paradifc  ;  and  from  it's  being  afterwards  infcrted  in 
the  Decalogue,  which  fetms  to  be  entirely  a  Collcdion 
of  moral  Precr;pts.     Some,  indeed,    have  denied    thft 
Sabbath  to  be  of  fo  early  an  Inllitution  •,  and  fuppofed 
that  Mofts^  in  the  fceond  Chapter  of  Gencfis^  fpeak?,  by 
Way  of  Anticipation,  of  a  Sabbath  that  was  hereafter  to 
be  inftituted/'itnongthe  Jews  :  Bur,  as  this  Opinion 
has  Nothing  to  fupport  it,  in  the  facrrd  Text  •,  being 
advanced  with  no  oiher  Vitrw,  than  to  lerve  a  lavourite 
Scheme  ;  I  do  n^^t  thinV.  m>fclf  i;blif;td   to  take  any 
further  Notice  cf  it.     I  (hall  only  make  thefe  general 
Oofervations  ;  that  themoft  obwicus  and   literal  Scnfe 
of  Scriptoreis  ufually  the  righteft  ;  that  when  this   will 
any  Way  bear,  we  have  no   Authority  to  perplex  it 
vt'ith  Expofitions  of  our  own  ;  that  when  we  attempt  to 
explain  it,  we  muft  be  very  careful  left   we  be  in  any 
Degree  influenced  by  Prejudice  and  a  Party- Spirit  i  and 
when  in  Oppofition  to  the  literal  Senfe,  Things  which 
ought  to  he  proved,  are  taken  for  granted,  as  in  the 
Cafe  before  ns  wc  have  great  Reafon  to  fufpeft  this  ; 
and  oughp  cj  look  upon  it  as  no  better  than  begging  the 
Quellion.     I  proceed  therefore  to  examine,  wherein  the 
Morality  of  tiie  Sabbath  confids,  and  kow  far  it  is  ex- 
tended. 

That  the  Infinite  Creator  Is  to  be  adored,  by  every 
rational  Being  }  that  Creatures  formed  for  Society,  a« 
we  are,  fhould  worfhip  him  in  a  publick  and  ^cial 
Manner  ;  and  that,^  in  Order  to  this,  particular  Times 
ihould  be  fet  apart  for  the  facred  Employment,  either 
bytheexprefs  Appointment  of  Heaven,  or  by  mutual 
-'Agreement  among  Men  j  feem  to  be  Propofitions  ne- 

ceflariiy 


explained  and  vindicated. 


II 


ffeffarilyconneffled,  founded  upon  the  Nature  &  Reafoft 
of  rhings.  They  are  of,  Conftqueiicc,  mofi:!  L)uiies» 
and  nf  perpetual  Obligation.  The  UBivcrfal  Praduc  of 
Mankind,evcninthe  moa  barbarous  &  uncivilifcd  Nati- 
ons where  they  have  Nothing  but  the  Light  of  Nature 
to  dired  them,  is  a  lufficient  Evidence  of  what  I  bavf 
now  afTerted.  They  have  all,  as  far  as  our  Difcoverics 
extend,  their  particular  Seafons  for  Divine  Worlhip  ) 
their  folemn  Aflcmblies,  and  lacred  Fcftivals. 

The  Matter  \n  Debate  then,  is  not  whether  particular 
Seafons  fliould    be  appropriated  to  publick  Woifhip  ; 
ihij  Nature  teaches,  and  /^/j  even  the  illiterate  Savage 
confeffcs  :  But  the  Quell  ion  is  this  -,  What  is  the  pro- 
per Proportion  for  Man  in  his  prelent  State  ?  I  fay, 
for  Man  in  his  prefent  State  :  for  other  Creaf'jres,  as 
far  as  wc  know,  may  hivc  different  Proportion?  afTigned 
them  ;  as  their  Obligations,  Circumftanc(8  ^NtcefTitits, 
mayditlcr  from  our's.    The  eie6lAngtls,&  ihe Spirits  of" 
!utl  Men  made  perfed, are  capable  ot  (olenHiifing  a  per- 
petual Sabbath  -,   and  their  Halielujabs  afcend,  inccflTant. 
This  certainly  cannot  be  expeded  ot  us  i  for  it  is  a  Ser- 
vice which,  upon  many  Accounts,  we  are  not  able  to 
perform.     The  whole  Difficulty  then  lies   in  afljgnirg 
a  proper  Propm-tion  for  Man  in  bis  prefent  Utate.     And 
this  is  a  Poi-c  concernifig  which,  jf  there  was  no  Re- 
velation ta  determine  it,  it  is  impoffible  that  the  Gene- 
rality of  Mankind  Oiould  ever  agree.     TheConftquence 
of  this  would  have  been,  that  the  Proportions  afligncd 
would  have  been  every  whit  as  various  as  the  Tem'pers 
of  Mer>  i  end  it  is  highly  probable,  that  in  a  little!  ime, 
there    would  have  been  no  Proportion  at  all.     Thofe 
of  a  fuperftitious  Turn  would  have  been  for  multiply- 
ing thcfe  Seafons,  and  devoting  the  bigger  Part  of  their 
Time  •,  while  others  of  a  gayer  Difpofition,  and  loofer 
Principles,  (which  arc  generally   the  moft  numerous  ;  • 
would  have  thought  once  in  a  Month,  once  in  a  Year, 
or  perhaps  once  in  their  Lives,  fufficient.     In  fucfi  a 
Cafe  as  this,ic  is  rcafonable  to  imagine,  that  the  God  of 

B  2  Peace, 


"« 


14        rhe   CHRISTIAN  SABBATH 

Peace,  who  is  intimately  acquainted  with  the  humane 
Coaltitution  i  and  who  could  not  but  torcfee  theendicfs 
i^iiputcj.  which  would  otherwilc  nectlTirily  arifc  among 
b«a  Creatures  •.  would  interpcfc  his  own  Authority,  and 
•Icertain  the  important  Point.  Accorriirgly,  we  find 
Mm  m  tad  doing  fo,  trom  the  Bfgmntn.r  of  the  World 
ereatmg  jt  in  fix  Uays.   which  he  could   as  cafiiy  have 

i'^Vl.  ^^    "'^'"'»  ""'^  '^^'^•"g  "PO"   the  feventh  j  by 
this  Aa.  appointing   one  Day   in  feven.  as  ihe  proper 
FropoTttan  /en  Man  in  bis  pnjent  State.     And  as  this 
vasoaa,naHy  a  Divine  Institution,  we  have   Rcafon  to 
think  that  this  is  the  exaft  Medtum  ;  that,  as  to  u». 
there  is  a  moral  fitnefe  m  this  particular  Proportion 
beyond  any  other  that  could  have  been  invented  by  hu- 
mane Wit,     And  if  the  Precept  is  moral,  it  follows  of 
Confequence    that  it  mud  be  of  perpetual  Obligaticnv 
Ihere  could  be  no  Alteration  in  it,  wnlcfs  thtre   were  a 
correfpondert  Alteration  in  the  Nature  of  M.n.-  Which 
Ms  me  to  mention  the  only  plaufible  Obj^aion   to  thi^ 
iicheme,  that  ar  prefent  I  readUy  think  of  :  And  that  is, 
fn'/i    Q  !r[''^  *"  Alteration  at  the  Fall  of  Adam  \ 
and  the  Sabbath  was  inltitutcd  for  Man  in  a  State  of  In' 
nocence.     But  as  w.  fee  no  ether  Precept  of  the  moral 
Law,  conforming  .tfelf  to  the   prefent  Corruption    of 
humane  Nature  ;   I  know  of  no  fpccial  R  alon,   why 
w  f^ould  expeft  rt  m  this.     T&e  Lam  of  the  LORD  I 
-  i    and  mult  therefore  eonfider  Man,  as  a  Cr«- 

ture  perfea  ,n  his  Kind.  This  Ob^.dioo,  I  think, 
vanifhesofCo«.fe  ;  and  upon  the  while,  the  Propor- 
tion of  one  Diym  Seven,  appears  to  be  fknmy  mira); 
and  of  perpetual  ObHgaiion.  ^  * 

Having  gradually  proceedetf  in  our  Enqtiiric?,  thus 
V\^n  "^%^^^,"""y  f^d  to  examine,  in  the  nextPIace, 
.vbtcbDay  of  the /even  is  mcf,  proper  for  tb,  Purpofe  I 
^o  mnrlft"  «  evident  at  firfl  Sighr,  that  there  can  be 
7.  IT  ?'^! '"  ''"'^y '  "^"'•'^  ^'^«"  5n  another.  Lec 
Z^^''?^  ^.^^^^  r;«  '^i^'*  the  fame  Prnportior.  is  pre- 
4eryed,  the  faaie  Duties  pwferraed.      One  Da>  of  the 

Week 


^m 


tjipUinti  and  vinditalti. 


«J 


■s^ 


Week  is  at  long  as  the  other  j  it  returns  with  equalFre- 
quency  %  and  js  in  iifelt,  equally  luitablc  t(  r  Reji^  or 
fVvrJhip.     Here  we  have  opened  a  new  Source  of  cvcr- 
lattmg  Difcord.     Mankind,  if  left  to  themfelve  ,  would 
be  as  unliHcly  to   agree  in  this,  as  in  nxing  the  exaft 
Proportion.     As  a  Memorial^  indeed,  one  Day  might 
be  cttcemed  preferable  to  another  :  but  then,  it  is  natu- 
ral to  fuppole,  that  in  Prc-fs  of  Time,  rvery  Day  in 
the  Week  would  be  accidentally  diftmguiflied,  by  fome 
extraordinary  Events,  which  difFt^rent  Panics  would  be 
zealous  to  commemorate      Hete  then,  it  appears  pro- 
bable, that  a  Being  of  Infinite  Goodnefs,  a  God  of  Or- 
der and  not  of  Confufion  would  again  ifiterpofe.     We 
muft  have  Rccourfe  to  Revelation  j  and  the  pofitiva 
Appointment  of  Heaven  muft  determ'ae  the  Matter 
Under  the  Old-Teftament  Difpenfation,  we  may  hear 
GcD  bimfelf  pronouncing,  from    Mount  ^inai  ;    v,> 
Days  /halt   thou  labar,   and  do  all  thy  f^ori^  but  the 
Seventh  is  the  Sabbath  of  the  LORD  thy  GOD.     Thf  fe- 
venth  Day  was  then  diftinguilhtd  as  a  Sabbath,  and  ap- 
propriated to  the  immediate  Exercifc  of  Divme  Wor- 
flifp.     However,  as  there  is  no  moral  Fitnefs  in  this 
Day,  beyond  any  of  th'-  others  i  as  its  peculiar  San^ity 
depended   entirely  upon  a  pofitivt  loflitution  ;  there  is 
no  Ablurdity  in  fuppofmg,  that  the  particular  Day  may 
be  altered,  by  Divine  Authority  :  nor,  if  it  fliould  be. 
wouW  it  in  the  leaO  affed  the  Morality  and  Perpetuity 
©f  the  Sabbath  •,  which,  as  we  have  already  ktft^  i 
founded  upon  different  Principles.     Some  have  conjec- 
tured, and  Hot  wholly   without  Foundation*  th.ai  the 
particular  Day  was  aaually  changcd,at  the  Deliverance 
of  Ifratl  from  the  Land  ftt  Egypt  v  that  tke  Pctriarcbat 
Sabbath,&  Kh(tmfa:ckyVitTe  really  two  different  Days  of 
the  Week.     Be  that  as  it  will,  it  certainly  taay  bs  charg- 
ed, without  any  Improprieiy,  or   Inronveniencc  i  and 
this  IS  all  that  I  am,  at  prefcnt,  CGntending  for. 

Upon  Ih?  whQie  j  apd  to  (urn  up  all  that  I  have  ad- 
J^???3  M5dcr  this  Hgad»      That  particular  Seafonj 

Ihould 


■'C«  I 


H 


Thi  CHRISTUN    S/tiB.ITh 


ihoold  be  fct  apart  for  puMick  Worfhip,  apppar.-.  to  be 
•  moral  Precept,  of  perpetual  Ofrtgurion,  a  d  bilcovc- 
ftbJt  by  the  Light  ot  Natw«.  Thar  one  Day  m  fevcn 
fliouid  be  the  cxaA  Proportion,  is  alfo  a  moral  I  )uty, 
and  perpetually  obliges  :  but  is  ailtovtrablt  only  by 
Revelation.  But  when  we  find  this  or  jh^t  parnculur 
p»yof  theWerk,approprMted  to  fhcficredi'urpofr  ithis 
is  merely  a  pofitivt  &  temporary  Irftitution,  wh:ch  miy 
htaltercd.by  Divine  AppoinfBient.w^thout  atteding  ihe 
Morality  ot  thpS«bbath.  Having  premi.'ed  the  feThings 
I  have  now  cleared  the  \\  ay  to  the  Grand  Point  which 
W!  Iiave  before  im  i  and  proceed, 

in.  Toenptire^  what  Renfon  w  have  to  fuppoff, that 
tht  par  titular  Day.appcinttHi  for  this  tnd^wai  altered,  at 
tbt  RtlwretJian  §f  our  LORD.  And  as  we  have  fee n, 
that  m  this^art  of  our  Search,  it  is  impoflible  we  fhuuld 
liave  any  Light,  but  that  of  Revelation,  to  direft  us  j 
I  fhaH  now  point  You  at  /one  of  thofe  PafT^ges,  in 
facrcd  Writ,  which  appear,  moll  plainly,  to  intimate 
fuch  a  Change. 

The  Firft  Pdffage,rh(it  1  fh.ill  mention.is  in  the  Hun- 
dred «Bd  Eightrrnth  Pfttlm,  at  the  twenty  fecomi  Verfe 
md  on  i  where  we  read,  7 he  Stone  •which  the  Butlden 
refufed,    is  become  the    Heaa    of  the  Corner.     7h:s  is 
she  LORD*s  Doings  it  it  marveUous  in  cur  Eyes.      J  his 
Pfalm,  the  Rabbinic  a  I  Wui^n  iht-mlcives  acknowledge, 
has  a  Reference  to  the  Messiah  :  but  we  have  no  Net  d 
of  their  Teftimony,  in  the  Cafe  before  us.     Cfcriftians 
muft  contefs,  that  Scripture  is  the  beft  Interpreter  of 
Scripture  ;  theNewTeftamcnt  the  moll  infallibleExpoft- 
tor  of  the  Old  ;  and  we  find  it  exprefly  applied  to  our 
blefied  Lord,  Aft  iv.  lo.  where  P^/^r,  after  the  Cure 
of  a  Cripple,  publickly  declares,  in  the  Fare  of  the 
Jewi^  Sanhedrim  ;  Be  it  known  unto  you  all  and  to  all 
ibi  Peaplt  ofUnel^that  by  the  Name  of  JE  US  CHRhT 
ef  N,i2areth,  whom  ye  crucified,  whom  GOD  raifed  from 
the  Dead^  even  by.  Him  doth  this  Manjiand  hire  before 

Ton 


f 
1 


explained  and  vindicated. 


"5 


4i^ 


I 


I'ou  whole,  Jhii  is  the  Stcne  which  was  fet  at  Nongit 
oj  Tou  Builders,  wbieb  is  become  thj  Head  of  the  Cvtaer. 
From  whence  we  m«y  gather,  not  only,  that  our  LoRb 
Jesus  Cfaist  is  the  Stone  here  fpokcn  of  :  but  «)lo, 
when  it  was  that  this  Proj»hecy  was  fulfilled.  At  his 
Crucifixicn,  he  was  defpifcd,  of  fet  at  Nought  of  the 
Builders ;  at  his  Refurrrdlion,  he  becamr  the  Head  of 
thflf  Corner.  — JVhom  ye  crucified,  wbem  COD  raifed 
from  the  /)/'ji.--,Now,  let  us  mark  the  Words,  which 
imnieiiatelv  follow,  in  the  Pfalnift.  This  .7  the  Detf 
which  the  LORD  bath  made^  we  will  rejojce  and  beglai 
in  //.•••What  Day  ?-  -the  Day  in  which  the  Stone  that  the 
Builders  rejuftd,  became  the  Head  of  the  Corner  j  or,  in 
other  Words  the  Day  on  which  our  Lord  Jisus 
CiiR'ST  arofe  from  the  Dead.  Ikis  is  the  Day  which 
the  LOUD  has  made,  which  he  has  choftn  for  himfelf, 
and  ii)  which  he  challenges  a  fpccial  Propriety.  IVewill 
rf Joyce  ii7id  be  ghd  in  it,  worfhip  the  dear  Btn^f«^^or, 
and  comme moratf  his  redeeming  Love.  A  confidera- 
Llr  Evidence  this,  rhac  tlic  Day  of  our  Lord's  Rel'ur- 
frdiion,  fhould  be  celebrated  as  a  Sabbath,  under  the 
Gofpel. 

The  next  Place  that  I  fliall  point  Yot/  to.  You  may 
find  in  chcEteventhChapter  of  Ifaiah,  at  theTenthVerfe. 
ji'dd  intbat  Day^  *btre  jJjall  be  a  Root  of  J  tile,  which 
Jhalljiar:d  for  an  Enfign  of  the  People  \  to  it  JhaL  the 
Gentiles  Jeek^  and  his  Reft  flmU  be  glorious.  We  are 
here  taught,  that  the  Messiah,  when  he  appeared, 
would  iQcroduce  a  glorious /?<?/?  or  Sabbath  :  for  the/ 
che  Word  here  ufed,  in  the  Original,  is  not  Sabbath  5 
it  is  the  fame  which  is  ufed  in  the  FoUrthConiroaridmcnti 
when  v/e  are  told,  that  Goo  reftedupon  the  feventh  Da^. 

The  Apoftle  fecms  to  have  this  Paffage  fn  View,H«b. 
iv.  9.  where  he  argues.  There  remaineth  therefon  :§  Reft 
or  Sabbatifniy  as  ^hc  Gr^^*  Word  is,  f6r  tht  Pe$pht  of 
GOD  :  for  He  that  entred  inh  Hit  Refi,  He  atfo  bath 
ceafsdfrcm  His  own  Works^as  GOD  did  from  Hit.  Mer« 
Che  Apoflle  appears  Co  me,  evidently  to  run  a  Parallel, 

between 


\    ■<■ 


»«  Th  CHRlSrUN  SABBATH 

Jrecn  the  Father  and  the  Son  »  the  Creator  rcrting  from 
JV«  Works  and  the  f<ec)een)er  from  His.     Anu  fn« 

t^'r'n  r*'^"  ^^  ^^"^^   ^^^'^  ///^  Works  by    hat 
Adt    fandifird   a  S.bb.th.  m  the  Old  Teflan  cm      ll 

when  he  rei  ed  Irom  His,  would  alio  fandify  a  SaS* 
under  the  New  ;  From  wncnce,  the  Apol^ir  fin  ll  Un! 
fm  that  there  is  another  Sabbath,  appointe^^  o  he 
People  or  God,  under  the  Golpel  j  diflRrent  IronV  that 
which  was  .nll.tuted  under  the  Law      In  th  s    Trhillr 

tTafott^^^^^^^  An':i.iw:    •; 

finlti  V^l    "'  r  T^'"  ^^^  ''"^«  ^^°"^  t=^^  ^^^-icl,  having 

hhexatd' vt':;;^  ^",'^^r^'"^  V-^  «'«   ^PP"'-  in 
msexaitea  ..tate  t  This  then   is  the  Chriniar  ^TihhirK 

tneie  .<e  is  •,  the  Red  of  the  Fathtr,  and  the  Hell  of  tl». 
Son      Wek«p  one  Day  in  feven.'in  Men  <r    of  our 
Crea  or,  anrl  the   Obligations  we  are  unf ,  r  tnF  m 
«h.ch  n  the  Foundation  of  all  natural  «'!;„     !„d  we 
keep  the  firft  Day  of  the  Wc.k,   in   Memo"y  t";  ou 
Redeemer.and  the  Salvation  that  He  hasacconmhhed 
which  !« the  Grand  Sul-je«  of  Revelation.      ""'•""""'  • 
As  a  furiherConfirmation  of  thisChange.weoughtnow 
to  confider  the  tuample  of  our  Lokd  Je^usUirist 
himfelf    and  his  Apoflles.     On  the  very  Day  c     "ur 
Uro',  Refurreflion.  v^e  meet  with  a  wordiippinR  A- 
ftmbly  ;  and  we  behold  Christ  appearing  in  the  Midft 

^.C  'u      ^K'  '^■"""'i'  >>"n  the  Fiift  Day  of  the 
Week,  «.*«  /i,  Z)Mr/  mre  Jhut,  when  tit  DircilZ 

need  ,„  ,be  M,ifi,„i faith u,to ,hm, pjcbe umoZ. 
The  Particulars  of  th«  n,en,orable  Interview  are  bu 
briefly  recorded  :  bu:  then  it  was,  in  all  Probability,  tha 
our  Lord  J«t,s  Christ,  having  refted  from  hisWork 
foft  inftituted  the  Cfcriftian  Sabbath.     Accordingly"  « 
the  twenty  fiwh  Verfe  of  the  fame  Chapter,  aft"?  eight 

Days 


y& 


.^^ 


iitpisinid  gui  vin4i€§Ui, 


•«7 


Dtyi  mlnfivtlj,  ( agreeabl<!  to  the  Jiwi/b  Mediod  4S 
c^mpuutioii;  which  bringi  ui  to  cht  ntxt  Firfi  Dm 
sf  tbt  Witk  i  we  fee  th«  Difcipici  again  affcmblcd. 
•nd  our  Lord  ag.ui  appearing,  with  hit  Benediaioo. 
And  aa  the  Evangelift  informs  ui,  at  the  thirtieth 
A  *  nV  .  /  "*  Pcrjormcd  ai«fpr  signs,  in  the  Prefena  if 
fts  Dif€iplet,  which  are  not  there  particularly  fpecificd  i 
til  probable  he  might  then  aifo  deliver  •thtr  Infiruc 
/i#w.  and  infornr  iliem»  among  the  reft,  of  the  Alter*- 
l^M  "*^*  *"  ^^^  Sabbath.     Thus,  as  re  read 

-/Vl  V/'     "•"  ""."  ^'"'  '^'^^'^  ^'^'y  Days.fpiakinw 
•ftbi  Things  per  fining  io  ihe  Kingdom  of  GOD.    In 

the  fecond  Chapter  of  the  AAs  >  at  the  Feaft  of  /><»- 
wre/r,  which,  a  fmall  Acquaintance  with  Jtwi/h  Anti- 
^L^%^f  convince  us,  was   upon  the  Firji  Dnj  of 
the  mtk  i  we  again  view  the  Difciplcs  met  together. 
^itb  one  Accord,  and  in  one  Place  •.  the  Holy  Spirit 
further  honouring  the  Day.   by  making  a  vifible  Dc- 
fccnt,  and  communicating  his  miracuJous  Gifts  i  and 
ft  Difcourfe  of  Pe$er'9,  confcquent  upon  it,  fuccecded. 
•  «n^  CoBvcrfion  of  Three  Thoufand  Souls.     It  is 
[f""*!?*?'^' ""^  ^'^orthy  our  Notice  ;  that  it  was  upon 
the  Ftrft  my  of  the  fTeek,   the  Firft    Sermon    was 
preached,  after  the  Afcenfion  of  our  Lord,  and  the 
l-irft  Coaverts  added  to  the  Chriftian  Church.     After 
this,  the  Cuftom  fcems  univerfally  to  have  obuined 
among  the  Gentile  Frofcffors  ;  and  we  find  Paul,  Afls 
XX.  J.  preaching  at  Troas,  upon  the  Firft  Day  of  the 
Wetk  when  (as  it  Ihould   fccm  was  ufual  upon  that 
Day  J  the  Dtfctples  came  together  to  break  Bread.     We 
hndhira  afterwards,  dircfting  the  Church  zt  Corinth,, 
r  II  1-^^  <-hapter  of  his  Firft  Epiftle,  to  make  their 
CoUcdions,  upon  the  Firfi  Day  of  the  mek ;  from 
whence  we  may  conclude,  that  this  was  the  moft  con- 
venient Day,  for  the  Purpofe  ;  and  what  other  Reafon 
can  be  affigncd.  why  it  fiiould   be  fo,  only,  beoaufe 
that  on    this   Day,   they    were   conftantly  aflbmbled 
for  Divinc  Worlhip  ^  Giving  of  Alms  was  cuftom. 


'A 


I 


1 
f 


•ry  tmong  tke  ytnu  upon  /AWf  Sabl»atli »  And  Uit 
Apoftic,  by  traniferring  tkii  Ducy  t«  dM  #ar/  Djy 
if/  /A#  AIV#ift,  ftfuig  to  hint,  that  this  w%%  to  be  looked 
upon  at  tho  Sabbjub,  aaiKHig  Ckriftiaaa.  lo  ihort, 
uttlda  thU  wtrc  cbc  C«ff,  it  it  dificulc  to  fiy,  why 
the  Ff>>l  Bay  tf  $kt  H^4fk  fkould  he  fe  frequcncly 
diftinguiOied,  bfyond  any  other,  in  fo  aaoy  PJacti 
of  the  New-TeltameDC. 

At  the  TiMe  whtn  Jakn  mtote  hit  RjvelaiiM^ 
this  Day  tppears,  not  only  appropriated  to  Divine 
Worfhip  .*  but  alfo,  to  have  obcamed  that  new,  aad 
siore  honourable  Tkle,  whkh  it  aoiw  wean.  Thii, 
thofe  that  underftand  the  original  I.<aiigoa§e,  will  al- 
low to  be  the  Ifteral  Interpretation  of  that  Palfige, 
Rev.  i.  loi  twos  in  tbi  Spirit  upcu  $ht  t  LORD'S 
DAT, 

All  thefe  Evtdcncct  taken  together^  I  thiok,  amounr, 
if  not  to  an  abfolute  Deoionftration  i  yet,  at  Iraft, 
to  a  very  high  Probability,  that  the  Firji  Ubj  cf 
the  fTiskf  the  Day  on  which  our  Lord  Jssus  Cuhut 
arofc  from  the  Dead,  fhould  be  c  bfervcd  as  the  Chrif« 
lian  Sabbath. 

I  haften  now, 

IV.  and  laftly.  Tfi  afign  a  Rtafon  why  there  is  no 
tKprefs  Command  fdr  thii  Saibatb  in  thi  NewTefta' 
mint. 

This  is  the  moft  formidable  Objection  of  our  Adver- 
faries,  upon  which  they  ktm  to  reft  the  whole  of 
their  Caufe.  It  has  been  frequently  urged,  with  great 
Confidence,  and  to  little  Purpofe  .•  and,  if  this  is 
anfwered,  their    whole    Scheiiie  vaai£hes  of  Courfe. 

f    The   Wjord«   irc  Kuriah  Hmtrg  j  cflVntiilfj  dlfTercnt  Itom 
Htmira  Kuriou  :  the  ftrmer  being,  evidently,   an   ■ppropriate 
.    Phrafe ;  the  latter  not.— — Thui  alfo,  in  the  Latin  Langaise, 


D!n  Dominies  dj0«ri  from  Din  Dtminthmmm 


And 


i-i 


\ 


•sk 


^  iftpJstMtd  4Md  vindiisiid,  in 

AmI  I  tkiak  eke  SUtnct  of  tke  NewTeftiireae,  u 
to  this,  fufficicntljr  Kcounted  for,  from  the  p«rtic«iUr 
Circuasftancea  or  that  Dfy.  Ths  Gofp«!  was  &r(t 
pubH&cd  CO  the  yewj,  a  People,  vaftiy  tenacious  of 
liwir  ancieut  CuftoMi  ;  ooteriouAy  ohninacc  and  fu* 
per^ilioHt.  Ic  wu  nmtffkry,  chercl«rt,thac  tht  m w  Dif* 
•enfatioB  (houkl  be  graduaiW  introduced  among  them, 
if  iow  Degreei,  and  as  dley  were  able  to  bear  ic 
The  ADoftlei  wert  very  careful,  lefl  they  fhoulJ  drive 
too  (§A  i  and  fjife  OfTeacc,  by  the  lanovations  tb«y 
were  making.  They  were  extreaaely  cautious,  ho# 
far  they  oppofed  the  ceremonial  Law  \  nay,  in  roanf 
Ifilances,  they  aAually  complied  with  it :  and  in  their 
grand  QourKil  at  Jtrufaiem^  Ada  xr.  39.  they  dtcr- 
mined,  that  this  eccafiunal  Conformity  was  adrifa^'-'i 
while  the  Church  continued  in  iti  Infant  State ;  com- 
manding the  GentiU  Converts,  to  skfiain  fr»m  Tbingt 
ftranglid,  and  frtm  Blood  \  Icll  they  ihould  offend  their 
Jewi/b  Brethren.  In  the  next  Chapter,  we  find  Paul 
circumcifing  Timothy^  becaufe  of  thi  Jews,  that  wen 
in  tboje  Quarters  :  and  i  Ccr  ix  20.  He  gives  us  a 
Reafon  for  this  Conduct ;  Unio  tht  Jews  /  became  as 
a  J'w,  that  I  migkt  gain  the  Jews  j  to  them  that  art 
under  the  Law^  as  under  the  Law^  that  I  might  gain 
them  that  are  under  the  Law.  Peter  an%  Barnabai 
fcem  to  have  carried  the  Matter  ftill  further,  upon 
the  fame  Principles ;  and  to  have  been  guilty  of  un- 
juiltfiable  DifTimulation  ;  an  Artifice,  that  was  incon- 
iiftent  with  the  Simplicity  of  the  Gofpel ;  as  we  may 
karn  from  Gal.  ii.  11.  Now,  there  wa*  rva  Part  of 
their  Law,  that  the  Jews  were  more  fond  of,  than 
they  were  of  their  Sabbath  *,  none,  that  they  more 
rigoroufly  obfrrved  ;  »r  that  they  would,  with  more 
Difficulty,  have  been  perfwaded  to  part-  with.  It  no 
longer,  therefore,  remain*  a  Myftery,  why  the  Apofllcs 
did  not  think  proper  to  infift,  at  once,  upon  an  Al- 
teration herff.  They  left  it  to  After-Difcoverics,  left 
ic  fliould  prejudice  their  young  Difciples.     They  them- 


i 


^*  t>  ^% 


%  \ 


i 


*-^  'f 


>• 


tbtt.  for  a  confidtMible  Time,  ihcy  indulge^  the  J*** 

U      'Ti.  pfobtble  thic  they    Irc^-cntly    pretehed  to 
them.ia  their  Syn.goguej,  upon  th.t  D.yi  «  there 
"„  then  a  Concourfc  of  ftoplc.  -Nor  *•»  "•efl*^*- 
^r^'onomy  eatirtly  .bol.Oied.  t.11  the  find  Deftm.- 
tionof  y^^«'««.  •"«!  the  Temple.     Thi.,  1  lo..k  upoi> 
Z.   XZ  Anf»er  to  tk«  Queftion.  «hy  «*"«  « 
«o «»«/<  C.-««W.  in  the  New  'l'«"n«|;J' •??",'?"« 
■  s"'b.tb,  upon  the  Rrjl  C«y  »/  (*'  '^f'*-     '  ^"\ 
Mw  finifted  my  Defign.  .«d  lh.«  conclude,  w«h  . 

nUd^;f iTWhren  -d  re.Uf,.  th.  /-^-(--Z 
<»<  riri/Ji/n  SMath.     You  hare  feen,  that  this  it  t»e 
G  ."  W  ofthe  Refurreaion  of  CHM.T  ,  «pon 
«hich,  the  whole   Fabrick  of   the  Gofpel   depend.. 
Suffer  .ne  to  add.  that.  ..  'hi.  »  the  m,,„  Frog   of 
RtvtUlin,    it  i.  alfo  the  principal  Support  of  Pmc- 
KS».     Take  away  the  Sabbath.and  what  would 
Je  the  Confequcnce  ?  Errors  in  Doflrine  and  O-rrup. 
^on  in  Praaice.  would  break  in  upon  u..  l.ke  .  •'lood  i 
Immorality  would   triumph,  without  Controul  •.   and 
lRno»nce  fpread  an  unbounded  Dominion.    Thi.  U.  d 
Sd  then  be  a  Uni  ./  DarkntJ^,  a>  3«'t»'^  ''/fj 

„h,r/lbe  Ligbt  is  a,  Darkntfi.  May  God.  of  hi. 
iofimte  Mficy.  pteltrve  u.  from  this,  and  every  Error 
of  he  Wicked*^.  .Rablift.  u-  in  'h«  ?•"•>.  "h-chwu 
once  delivered  to  the  Saint.  ^  and  fit  us,  by  Sabbath, 
here  below,  for  the  Enjoy  ment  of  an  everl.fl.ng  Sabbath, 


^  3  iI5  H  ^< 


iUi 

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^^^^^M 

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